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Saif's bhangra for Kareena

Saif's bhangra for Kareena.....

Punjabi bhangra-rapper Honey Singh’s hit number Angreji beat didn’t find a place in Saif Ali Khan’s upcoming production Cocktail very easily. The song had to get clearance from three international companies before it could be used in the film — all because Kareena Kapoor had her heart set on the song.

Kareena apparently fell in love with Angreji beat some months ago and had been urging Saif to get the song for his production. When the song’s original singer-composer Honey Singh was contacted, Saif was told the track was owned by three international recording labels. That, as far as Saif was concerned, was that. But Kareena was adamant.

Says our source, “Kareena wanted Angreji beat at any cost for the film. Saif suggested they use a modified version in Cocktail. But rearranging the beats and rhythm seemed impossible. So it was decided to keep the song intact in the film, no matter how many clearances it required.”

Honey Singh confirms, “It’s true. Angreji beat is Kareena’s favourite track and she was very keen to have it in the film. Rajesh Banga of Eros (the co-producers of Cocktail) told me about it. It took me three months to arrange the NOC from various recording labels.”

The international music companies from whom permission had to be sought were Movie Box UK, Speed Records India and Planet Records Canada. Explains Singh, “These companies had the rights of Angreji beat. But then Saif really wanted it. So we got the NOC from all three labels.”

Singh claims Pritam Chakraborty, who is the film’s official composer, was “pretty cool” with the idea of an extraneous number being incorporated into Cocktail. “Pritam Dada had no problems with my song. I have sung a song composed by him in Cocktail. It’s called Main sharaabi. I’m also singing for him in Race 2.”